The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has published its response to the consultation proposals to amend the minimum medical standards for eyesight and epilepsy in relation to driving.

There will be some changes for drivers and riders with epilepsy and to the vision standards required for driving. There will be no change to the distance from which a number plate must be read to test visual acuity.

Road Safety Minister, Mike Penning, said: “Road safety is a top priority for the government and our licensing rules have an important role in ensuring that Britain maintains its position as having some of the safest roads in the world. We must make sure that only those who are safe to drive do so, while at the same time avoiding placing unnecessary restrictions on people’s independence. We believe that these changes strike the right balance in allowing as many people as possible to drive, without compromising safety.”

Some changes have already been introduced with the vast majority of the new standards expected to come into force later this year. This follows a public consultation that sought views on the implementation of European minimum medical standards for drivers. While UK standards must be at least at the level of a minimum standard, the UK is not required to relax existing domestic standards where these are justifiably higher than the EU ones.

The main aspects of the new standards for lorries are:

Eyesight

• There will be no change to the current distance from which a number plate must be read to test visual acuity. The consultation proposed reducing the distance to 17.5 metres but following further consideration the distance will remain at 20 metres.
• In addition to the number plate test, new rules recently introduced mean that drivers must also declare that they have never been told that their vision is below that of the EU minimum measurement. Although an optician’s certificate is not routinely required a licence will be refused if a formal eye test reveals visual acuity to fall below that of the EU minimum measurement.
• There has been a change to the visual field standard to meet the EU minimum requirement.
• Glasses used to meet the standards must not exceed prescribed limits.

Epilepsy

There are also changes to the rules for drivers who have ever suffered seizures.  More details are available at: www.dft.gov.uk/dvla/consultations.aspx.